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Costs go beyond the elevator and remodeling the side of house. Other costs may include reinforcing the foundation and roof and upgrading the electricity service. You're talking $50K minimum and more likely $100K. You'd pay less to move to a single story house and also be much happier. Then there's reliability. Elevators are notorious for failing. Just hope you're on the ground floor. But what if you're on the second floor during failure? Or worse, what if you're inside? A person in a wheelchair would require a pretty good service contract for an elevator. The elevator companies often sell elevators at cost just to get the service contract, which is their bread and butter. Service contracts are necessary and expensive.

Somewhere I have read about a contractor that built an elevator shaft on the outside of the house that opens to the inside of the house on both the first and second floors. I haven't had any luck finding the reference.

There are several of these on the market, usually called "vertical lifts" rather than elevators...some enclosed, some not. I would expect in MA you would want one that is enclosed though. None are cheap. Most home elevators do have a battery back-up system for power failures though. Here are some examples:

Ex-Goose, I would also caution you that spiral staircases don't meet code for fire safety in many jurisdictions.

I agree you would probably do better to sell your current home and purchase a single level home instead.

(KLD)

The SCI-Nurses are advanced practice nurses specializing in SCI/D care. They are available to answer questions, provide education, and make suggestions which you should always discuss with your physician/primary health care provider before implementing. Medical diagnosis is not provided, nor do the SCI-Nurses provide nursing or medical care through their responses on the CareCure forums.

Vertical porch/platform lifts with an enclosure is what most people use. When you start talking elevators you're talking a huge amount of money, which are typically used in commercial buildings. I have Bruno platform lift going to my basement which is an 8' model. But, they are painfully slow, some are really noisy, and can conk out at anytime. I tend to avoid going into my basement.

Sorry for the delay in replying - for some reason, even though I've set the reply options to tell me, I don't get a message when there are new posts in the thread...

I'd love to move, but there are many reasons that isn't possible...

I've been looking at inclined platform lifts, and they are actually MORE expensive than elevators according to the initial quotes we have gotten... I've gotten prices in the $25-35K range, EACH (we need two, one to reach the basement and one to reach the second floor...)

There is a spot that might work for an outside elevator, but that would require major work to dig down for the basement access, redoing the foundation and so on, PLUS needing to do major modifications on the roof....

In essence the GF bought the house before I met her, so I had no say in it.... It is a lovely place to look at, but during all the work that either I have done on it (and I did almost everything before I got hurt) or had done, the place has been the house from hell to work on... As just one example, depending on how you count, it has 5 or 6 DIFFERENT attic spaces, I did a complete low voltage wiring job, installing CATV, Ethernet and Phone wiring, and had to run cable through all but one...

So I'm somewhat back at square zero on access... However thanks for the links to elevator info, perhaps one of those might be useful...

ex-Gooserider

T-5 ASIA-B para, currently working on building own power chair, as being in a manual is an EXTRA handicap.

I have enjoyed reading this thread. Links and videos very helpful. I am considering building a "walkout style" house with the need for a vertical lift. Anything called an elevator is outrageous in price as noted in the thread. I am considering Ameriglide 8' vertical lift. for approx 7k to 8 k depending on options. Obviously it is easier to design a lift into a floor plan than retro-fit and I realize ex-G needs 3 stops so that complicates things.. Wondering a couple things does anyone know where to look for a used or reconditioned lift or elevator? Also Good luck Goose sounds like a tough project but if there's a will...